Federal Medical Center Devens is an administrative-security federal prison located in Ayer, Massachusetts. It is also known as FMC Devens and Fort Devens Prison. The facility houses male inmates. FMC Devens Camp is located adjacent to the main institution. Male inmates are also housed at the camp.
Table of contents
- FMC Devens Contact Information
- Federal Medical Center Devens Inmate Information
- FMC Devens Prison Services Information
- FMC Devens Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings
- Visitation Information for FMC Devens
- FMC Devens Prison Culture Information
- FMC Devens in the News
- More Information About Federal Medical Center Devens
FMC Devens Contact Information
Facility Address & Contact Information
Federal Medical Center Devens
42 Patton Road
Ayer, MA 01432
Phone: 978-796-1000
Fax: 978-796-1118
Email: [email protected]
BOP Website: Bureau of Prisons Page
Wikipedia: Wikipedia Page
Inmate Correspondence Address
FMC Devens
Inmate Name and Registration Number
FMC Devens
Federal Medical Center
P.O. Box 879
Ayer, MA 01432
FMC Devens Prison Camp
Inmate Name and Registration Number
FMC Devens Camp
Satellite Prison Camp
P.O. Box 879
Ayer, MA 01432
How to Send Money
Funds cannot be sent directly to inmates. See our page on sending money to federal prisoners.
Federal Medical Center Devens Inmate Information
Inmate Gender
Male Inmates
Prison Security Level
Facility Location
FMC Devens is located in north-central Massachusetts, about 39 miles west of Boston and 20 miles north of Worcester, on the decommissioned military base of Fort Devens.
BOP Region
BOP Institution Code
DEV for FMC Devens
Medical Care Level
Level 3/4. See our page on Medical Care Levels and Procedures for more information.
Mental Health Care Level
Level 4.
Judicial District
Population Number
FMC Devens houses approximately 800 inmates. The camp houses around 60 inmates.
FMC Devens Prison Services Information
Background
Federal Medical Center Devens is an administrative-security federal prison in Ayer, Massachusetts, which houses male inmates. It was opened in 1999. Federal Medical Center Devens Camp, which also houses male inmates, was opened in 1998 and is located adjacent to the main institution.
FMC Devens is a Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP) facility, which means that around 40 percent of the inmate population is incarcerated for a current or past sexual offense.
Current notable inmates include:
- Peter Madoff (serving 10 years for conspiracy to commit securities fraud)
- Former underboss of the Colombo crime family John Franzese (serving eight years for racketeering conspiracy)
- Former underboss of the Gambino crime family Frank Locascio (serving a life sentence for racketeering and directing criminal activities)
- Former Congressman Anthony Weiner. Former notable inmates include John Gambino (convicted of drug trafficking and murder)
- Billionaire and former director of Goldman Sachs Rajat Gupta (served two years for insider trading)
- Former boss of the DeCalvacante crime family John Riggi (served 22 years for racketeering, extortion, and conspiracy to commit murder)
- Former Massachusetts State Representative John George, Jr.
- Former New York State Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt
- Former federal prosecutor and state Republican Party Chairman Sam Currin
Media reports indicate that guards have been arrested for embezzlement, sexual assault, and smuggling contraband into the prison.
Inmate Housing
Inmates are housed in differing housing variations based on their security level status. Medium-security inmates tend to be housed in two-person cells, though there are some four-, six-, and eight-person cells. Low-security inmates tend to be housed in dormitories divided into two-person cells, though there are also some eight-person rooms. Inmates at the facility, due to medical or psychological treatment, are housed in one-, two-, or four-person cells. Inmates in the camp are housed in open dormitories. There are 128 inmates in the camp dorms.
Health Services
Inmates receive a thorough physical examination and psychological tests during the orientation period. Health services include medical sick calls, dental sick calls, and all support services. Emergency health care services are available 24 hours a day. Routine dental and medical care is obtained by attending a sick call at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Pill and insulin lines are conducted at 7:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.
Psychology Services
New inmates at FCI Devens undergo psychological testing during their Admission & Orientation phase. Crisis counseling, coping skills, suicide prevention, mental health counseling, and spiritual counseling are all available for inmates. The Psychology Department also offers a Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP-R) and a Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP). This department also offers self-development programs in both group and individual counseling. Classes include meditation, anger management, stress reduction, and victim impact.
Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
FMC Devens does not offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). However, the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP) and the Drug Education class are offered.
FMC Devens Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings
Education Services
FMC Devens and the camp provide GED, parenting, and English-as-a- Second Language (ESL) programs. Certificates are awarded for the completion of all programs. Adult Continuing Education (ACE) classes are also available, which are taught by fellow inmates and span a wide variety of topics. Parenting and the Back to Work Reentry Program are also available. High school diplomas and post-secondary degrees are available through paid correspondence programs. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All of these times exclude recalls for counts and meals.
Advanced Occupational Education
FMC Devens does not offer any advanced occupational education programs.
Vocational Training
FMC Devens offers vocational training in Computer Applications/MS Office (a nine-month program including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Culinary Arts.
Apprenticeship
FMC Devens offers apprenticeships in Education & Training and HVAC (limited to four inmates and takes three years to complete). The camp offers apprenticeships in Animal Trainer and Cook.
Library Services
A leisure and law library is available for inmates. An electronic law library has been added as part of the TRULINCS system, where inmates can conduct legal research from a database that contains the latest updates on case law from every federal district and circuit court in the United States, federal criminal/civil rules of procedure, sentencing guidelines, Bureau of Prisons Policy Statements, and more. Magazines, newspapers, and basic reference books cannot be removed from the library, but fiction and nonfiction books can. An interlibrary loan program is also available, as are DVD movies. Typewriters are available for inmate use in preparing legal documents. A copy machine is also available for inmate use.
UNICOR
FMC Devens and the camp do not house a UNICOR facility.
Commissary
Funds deposited by an inmate’s family, friends, or other sources are stored in the inmate’s commissary account, which is administered by FMC Devens. Inmates can use the funds to make telephone calls, send and receive emails, and purchase commissary items. Commissary items include sodas, snacks, food, clothing, ice cream, and shoes. Inmates are permitted to shop once a week on their designated shopping day. A $360 monthly spending limit is imposed. Shopping is conducted at breakfast, 8:30 a.m., and lunch Monday through Thursday. At the camp, inmates must submit their orders on Sunday. Purchases are then delivered on Thursday.
Recreation Services
FMC Devens recreation programs include indoor and outdoor activities that range from individualized hobby craft programs to intramural team sports. The Inmate Recreation and Activity Center includes a multi-purpose room, an outdoor recreation yard, and an indoor inmate Activity Center. The indoor Activity Center is located in the recreation yard and is intended for activities such as basketball, soccer, and floor hockey. Also indoors, inmates can use pull-up and dip bars, tables, TVs, ellipticals, treadmills, and stationary bikes. The Hobbycraft Shop and a music practice room are located in the Recreation Building, as is an art room.
Outside, inmates can play softball, soccer, horseshoes, basketball, bocce ball, and handball, as well as walk the track. Hours of operation are 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., excluding count and mealtimes. The camp has far scaled-down offerings, which consist of softball, handball, volleyball, bocce ball, stationary bikes, and treadmills.
Visitation Information for FMC Devens
On Sunday, Friday, and Saturday, visitation is held between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. On federal holidays visitation is held between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. See our page on prisoner visitation rules for more information.
FMC Devens Prison Culture Information
Prison Politics at Federal Medical Center Devens
There is a very low level of politics at this prison. According to one inmate, “This is a population management yard. There are very few, if any, political issues. Any outward signs of gangs or similar is normally met with staff intervention.” Another respondent agreed, stating, “This is not a political yard at all.”
Level of Violence
Violence is very infrequent at this facility. As explained by one inmate, “There is very little violence outside of a few rare events. Any violence is actually more typical amongst mentally handicapped inmates than others. This seems to be due to psychological issues, not the culture of the yard.” Another respondent stated, “There is hardly ever any violence. Level of safety is very great.”
Vulnerable Populations
Sex offenders, informants, and LGBT inmates can walk the yard. According to one respondent, “This institution is designed for these three groups. While this is a Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP) facility, there is also the Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP-R).” Another inmate agreed, stating, “If you don’t put your business out there, you will rarely, if ever, be asked what you are in prison for. Those out in the open about being a sex offender might be somewhat shunned by a few individuals, but this would be the exception to the rule.” As concisely put by another respondent, “Overall, anyone is able to walk this yard.”
Good at FMC Devens
“Cool place. Soft yard. Good medical.” “For bedridden inmates, they can stay in the housing units and have their food brought to them.” “It is a laid-back place with very few issues.” “Socially, anyone can find a helpful, supportive crowd.” “There is a very good rec program here.” “Unit teams and medical are both good.” “This is a good place for treatment of various kinds; psych treatment is good.” “COs are pretty laid back for the most part.” “We still have microwaves.”
Bad at FMC Devens
“Cubicle housing, common restrooms, cold, very few TVs.” “There is very little respect and very little to do in terms of productive activities.” “The food portions are poor, and the national menu is seldom followed.” “The commissary stays out of soda.” “Weather gets really cold in the winter.”
Other Inmate Comments
“This is an ideal place for sex offenders. It is a very soft yard due to so many sex offenders.” “This place is mellow, kind of like a retirement home.”
FMC Devens in the News
In April 2018, National Fish & Seafood president Jack Ventola, who was sentenced to two years in prison for tax fraud, requested to be incarcerated at Federal Medical Center Devens.
In November 2017, former Congressman Anthony Weiner turned himself in to FMC Devens to begin serving his 21-month sentence.
In June 2014, it was reported that the founder of the $3.7 billion hedge fund Galleon Group Raj Rajaratnam, had been making secret payments to certain prisoners at FMC Devens in exchange for special treatment and a top-floor room.
In 2009, former state court judge, federal prosecutor, and state Republican Party Chairman Sam Currin, who was serving 70 months at FMC Devens for laundering $1.3 million, was released after his sentence was reduced by more than five years.
In November 2004, Jeffrey Holliday, a maintenance foreman at FMC Devens, was charged with embezzling $90,000 in federal funds.
In 2003, Jose Concepcion Benzor Espinoza, a mentally ill prisoner who had stabbed his nephew to death over the television volume, gouged his own eyes out while waiting to undergo a mental health evaluation at FMC Devens.
In 2001, Lisa Rennie, a communication technician at FMC Devens, gave a cell phone to a prisoner she was having sex with. Rennie was sentenced to six months probation for the contraband but was not charged with sexual misconduct nor required to register as a sex offender.
More Information About Federal Medical Center Devens
For a comprehensive look at life in federal prison, pick up a copy of Christopher Zoukis’ Federal Prison Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Surviving the Federal Bureau of Prisons. For more detailed information about FMC Devens, please buy a copy of the Directory of Federal Prisons: The Unofficial Guide to Bureau of Prisons Institutions by Christopher Zoukis.
Published May 17, 2018 by Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA | Last Updated by Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA on Jul 21, 2023 at 2:09 pm
